How to Scan Business Cards Into Google Contacts
Google Contacts is the address book behind Gmail, Android and half the tools you already use — which makes it a sensible destination for a stack of paper cards. There's no Google app that scans cards for you, but the file-based route takes about a minute and puts every field where it belongs.
Scan on the phone, import in the browser
- Scan your cards on your iPhone. Recognition runs on the device and sorts each card into name, title, company, phone(s), email(s), website and address; correct anything odd by tapping the field.
- Open Export, choose vCard (.vcf), and select the cards you want — or the whole library.
- Send the file to yourself: save to Files, mail it, or drop it into Drive.
- On a computer, open contacts.google.com and choose Import in the left sidebar.
- Pick the .vcf file and confirm. Google adds the contacts and tags the batch with an import label, so you can review — or undo — the whole import in one go.
vCard or CSV — which to send
Two export formats, two jobs
| vCard (.vcf) | CSV | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Importing into an address book | Spreadsheets, CRMs, mail merges |
| Google Contacts import | Supported | Supported |
| Phone labels (mobile / work / fax) | Carried through as labels | Written as text inside the Phone cell |
| Several numbers on one card | Each becomes its own numbered entry | All in one cell, separated by `; ` |
| Human-readable before import | Not really | Yes — open it and check first |
For Google Contacts, vCard is the better route: the phone labels survive as labels instead of arriving as text you have to clean up. Keep CSV for the spreadsheet jobs — that path is covered here.
Where each field lands
Card field → Google Contacts field
| On the card | In Google Contacts |
|---|---|
| Name | First name / Last name |
| Job title | Job title |
| Company | Company |
| Mobile number | Phone, labelled Mobile |
| Office number | Phone, labelled Work |
| Fax number | Phone, labelled Work Fax |
| Email, labelled Work | |
| Website | Website |
| Street address | Address, labelled Work |
Import a batch of two or three cards first. Google labels each import so you can spot-check the result and, if something looks wrong, delete that label's contacts and try again before you push 200 cards into your main address book.
Keeping the cards after the import
An import is a copy, not a move. It's worth being deliberate about what happens to the originals: the cards stay in the app's library on your iPhone, each with the photo of the paper card, searchable by name or company. That's the part Google Contacts can't hold for you — the picture of the card, which is what settles arguments about a misread digit.
It also means Google having a copy is your choice per batch, not a condition of using the scanner. Recognition never needed the network in the first place.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an app that scans business cards into Google Contacts directly?
Google doesn't offer card scanning in Contacts. The reliable route is scan → export a vCard file → import it at contacts.google.com, which takes about a minute for any number of cards.
Does Google Contacts accept vCard files?
Yes — Google Contacts imports both vCard (.vcf) and CSV. vCard is preferable here because phone labels arrive as labels rather than as text.
Can I import from my phone rather than a computer?
The Google Contacts import flow is easiest in a desktop browser. From an iPhone you can also open the .vcf to add the cards to iOS Contacts, then let iOS sync them to your Google account if you have that account enabled in Settings.
Will it create duplicates?
If a contact is already there, importing can create a second entry. Google Contacts has a Merge & fix tool that finds duplicates after the fact — running it once after a big import is good hygiene.
Do I have to send my cards to Google to use the scanner?
No. Scanning and recognition happen on your iPhone and the library stays there. Exporting to Google is a separate, deliberate step you take when you want it.